Switch



E. N. JACOB! April s, 1930.

SWITCH Filed Feb 20, 1928 MM@v Edward N J-@cmh1 Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD N. JACOBI, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, .ASSIGINOR TO BRIGGS AND STRAT- TON CORPORATION, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SWITCH Application led February 20, 1928. Serial No. 255,816.

This invention relates to certain newV and useful inil'novemnts in switches and `refers more particularly to a switch for use with automotive vehicles and adapted to be mounted at the lower end portion ot' the steering gear and operated from the upper end thereof,

` there being a controlling` rod extended through the steering gear to the switch.

Une ditiiculty experienced in connection with switches ot' this character has been the inability to readily detect the various posit-ions oi the switch. as the position of the actuating lever at the steering wheel does not indicate the true switch position due to twisting of the long control rod and the lost motion between the parts. '.lheret'ore, this invention has as an object the provision of 'an improved switch structure in which readily yieldable means are provided which distinctly define each switch position. ,A

Another object ot' this invention resides in the provision of an improved switch structure ot' the character described which is of simplified and rugged ,construction so as to Withstand the hard usage and which is capable of ready installation.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved switch structure of the character described havingl a fixed member provided with indentations or pockets in which balls, carried by a retainer member are yieldably engaged to provide a detent action of distinctly defining each switch position.

lVith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly deiinedby the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention, constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the prin ciples thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a. view, taken through a switch structure embodying my invention. parts thereof being in section and parts in side elevation;

Figure 2 is a. rear plan view thereof looking on the plane ot the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the switch actuator apart from the switch assembly;

Figure l is a perspective View ofthe switch casing;

Figure 5 is a perspective view ofthe detent washer; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the ball retainer and switch driver member.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, 5 designates a switch unit of special construction, to be later described, to which a mounting bracket 6 is suitably secured as by spot welding, riveting or the like, the bracket 6 being bolted or otherwise secured to the lower end of a steering gear element, not shown, in a manner similar to that illustratedand described in my co-pending application, filed May 13, 1927 Serial No. 191,080. 'l` he bracket 6 has a central aperture 7 through which the lower end of an actuating rod 8 extends to be connected with the switch, as later described. The rod 8 is rotatably mounted within the steering column, not shown, and has a suitable lever or other operating means, not shown, mounted on its upper end.

The switch unit consists of a housing 9 of substantially cup shape having lateral lugs or flanges 1() at its peripheral edge to which a cover 11 is secured bybolts or other means 12. The cover 11 is ot insulating material and has a plurality ot' spaced contact members 13 embedded in its inner face and electrically connected with terminal members 14 carried by the outer face of the cover to which the wires ot' the various circuits are connected.

The bottom wall 15 of the casing 9 has a central aperture 16 concentric with the aperture T of the bracket 6 but of smaller diameter to form a shoulder 17 against which the op positely directed lugs 18 of an actuator 19 ride, the bracket member 6 having stops or projections 2O extended into the opening 7 to cooperate with the lugs 18 and limit the rotation of the actuator. The/actuator is of tubular construction to receive the rod 8 and has its youter end 21 taperingly reduced and externally threaded and slotted, as at 22, so that the jam nut 23 thereof binds the actuator fast to the rod.

The inner end of the actuator has two adjacent annular enlargements 24 and 25 forming a shoulder 26 at their junction, the enlargement 24 being of a size to iit the opening 1G of the casing bottom wall, and the shoulder 426 thereof extending slightly inwardly of the inner surface of the bottom wallv to support a combination retainer and driver member 27. The shoulder 26 holds the member 27 out of contact with the bottom wall 15 to reduce friction and the central xperture or opening 28 of the member 27 is of a diameter to it over the enlargement 25 of the actuator and has inwardlyextending driving lugs 29 which engage in slots 30 in the inner end of the actuator so that the member 27 rotates therewith.

The bottom wall 15 ot the casing 9 has an instruck annular 'bead or rim 30 concentric with the opening 16 to support a fiber contact carrying disc 31 within thecasing, the disc 31 having ya central opening32 to receive the member '27 and having diametrically opposed notches 33 in which driving tongues or lugs 34 struck upwardly from the member 27 are engaged. The member l31 is further f provided with notches or recesses4 35 in which the fastening lugs 36 of a contact support 37 engage, the contact support having spring contact -fingers 38 carried thereon which selectively bridge the pairs of contacts 13.

The member 27 is provided with a series of apertures 39 having their centers disposed on a common radius, and adapted to register with a series of indentations or pockets 40 in the bottom of the casing, there being a ball 41 dis osed in each aperture 39 of the member 27 an there held by a detent washer 42 of a diameter to engage between the lugs 34 and at all times yieldably ur ed toward the bottom of the casing by a he ical s ring 43. The outer coil 44 of the spring is o less diameter than that of the actuator 19 Aand snaps into an annular groove or channel 45 in the actuator adjacent the cover 11.

Asthe rod 8 is rotated through its lever member, not shown, corresponding movement is given the fiber contact carrying disc 31 to vary the circuits completed b the bridging of the contacts 13 by the mem er 27 which is drivingly connected with the rod through the actuator 19 and with the disc 31. At dlstinct positions of the switch, the balls 41 are engaged in certain of the indentations or pockets 40 of the casing bottom wall and as the parts'move to a new osition, the balls ride out of the indentations compressing \the spring 43 and as the contacts approach anew position the balls ride into the corresponding indentations 40 providing a decided detent action to clearly define the full position of the switch. Themanner of mounting the aetuator 19 and limiting its'rotation provides rugged meansfor facilitating the tightening of` the jamnut 23 without necessitating the use ofa tool to hold the actuator as a nut 23 is being tightened.

V The switch driver 27 is preferably secured to the actuator 19 by having that portion of the enlargement 25 projecting therebeyond swedged or riveted Over so that the actuator and driver are rigid and held against axial movement l"y the driver embracing one side of the'casing end wall and the lugs 18 the other. The balls 41 being free or floating in the apertures 39 are free to ride in and out of the pockets 40 to provide the detent action, which is yieldably opposed by the spring llurging the plate or washer 42 against the )a ls.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which an invention of the character described appertains, that I have provided an improved switch construction which has a decided detent action to distinctly define each switch position and which is of extremely rugged construction and which may be readily installed.

Vliat I claim as my invention is: 1. In a switch mechanism, a stationary Amember having a plurality of recesses therein, .switch actuating means rotatablymounted with respect to the stationary member, switch instrumentalities adapted to be operated to different positions bythe actuator, ball members nested in the recesses of the stationary member, means for maintaining the ball members in alignment with the stationary member recesses, and spring means whereby said ball members produce a detent action to distinctly detine each position of the switch instrumentalities.

2. In a switch mechanism, a substantially cup shaped housing having a plurality of indentions in its bottom wall, switch instru mentalities rotatable within the housing to different positions, switch actuating means connected with the switch instrumentalities to effect their movement to the different positions, ball retaining meansy rotatable with the switch instrumentalities and having ball receivingpockets adapted to be selectively registered with the indentations of the housing, ball members within the pockets of t-he retaining means, and spring means whereby said ball members provide a detent action to instrumentalities adapted to be operatedl to f3fyieldably retain the ball members in engagepockets, switch actuating4 means rotatable with respect to the stationary member, vswitch diflerent positions by the actuator', a re- 5 taincr member having ball receiving pockets adapted to register-,with thepockets of the stationary member, and balls retained in the pockets of one member and having a detent action with respect to the other member as the switch instrumentalities are moved to different positions to distinctly define each position of the switch,instrumentalities.l

4. In a switch mechanism, a stationary member having a plurality of ball receiving pockets, switch instrumentalities adapted to be operated to different positions, means for actuating the switch instrumentalities, a retainer member having ball receiving pockets adapted to register with the pockets of the 0 stationary member, balls retained in the pockets of one member and having a detent action with respect to the other member'as the switch instrumentalities move to different positions to distinctly detine each position, said retainer member having a sidewise movement with respect to the stationary member, and spring means normally yieldably urging it toward the stationary member.

5. In a switch mechanism, a substantially e inverted cup shaped housing having a plurality of indentations in the inner face of its bottom wall, switch instrumentalities within the housing for rotation to different positions, a retainer having avplurality of open- 5 ings therein adapted to register with the 1ndentations of the housing bottom wall, means whereby said retainer rotates with the switch instrumentalities, ball members mounted within the openings of the. retainer and eX- tending beyond the outer surface thereof to engage within the indentations of the housing bottom wall, and s ring means lnormally yieldably urging the alls toward the bottom wallof the retainer whereby a detent action is obtained to distinctly define each position lot the switch instrumentalities.

6. In a switch mechanism, a substantially inverted cup shaped housing having a plurality of indentations in the inner face of its bottom wall, switch instrumentalities within the housing for rotation to different positions, a retainer having a plurality of openings therein adapted to register with the indentations of the housing bottom wall,

5 means whereby said retainer rotates with the switch instrun'ientalities, ball members mounted within the openings of the retainer and extending beyond the outer surface thereof to engage within the indentations of the housing' bottom wall, a plate member disposed adjacent the outer face of the retainer to retain the balls within the openings thereof. and spring means normally urging said plate member toward the retainer to ment with the bottom wall if the housing to produce a detent action by the ball members engaging the indentations thereof to distinctly'definc each position of the switch instrumentalities.

7. In al switch mechanism, a substantially inverted cup shaped housing having a plurality of indentations in the inner face of its bottom wall, switch instrumentalities within the housing for rotation to differentpositions, a retainer having a plurality of openings therein adapted to register with the indentations of the housing bottom wall, means whereby said retainer rotates with the switch instrumentalities, ball members mounted within the openings of the retainer and eX- tending beyond the outer surface thereof to engage. within the indentations of the housing bottom wall, a plate member disposed adjacent the'outer face of the retainer to retain the balls within the openings thereof, spring means normally urging the plate member toward the retainer to yieldably retain the balls in engagement with the bottom wafil of the housing to produce a detent action by the ball members engaging the indentations thereof to distinctly define each position of the switch instrumentalities, and means whereby said plate member rides with the retainer and the switch instrumentalitiesl and is permitted movement toward and away from the retainer as the balls engage and disengage the indentations of the housing.

8. In a switch mechanism, switch instrumentalities 'including a movable member, a tubular actuator drivingly connected with said member, one end of said actuator being slotted and taperingly reduced outwardly,a jam nut threaded on said slotted tapered` end to bind the actuator to a control rod inserted in its bore, and positive means limiting the rotation of the actuator to provide a stop to withstand tightening of the jam nut.

9. In a switch mechanism, a stationary member having a plurality of ball receiving pockets, switch instrumentalities adapted to be operated to different positions with respect to the stationary member, an actuator drivingly connected with the switch instrumentalities and having. an annular groove therein, a retainer member having ball receiving pockets adapted to register with the pockets of the stationary member, balls retained in the pockets of one member and having a detent action with respect to the other as the switch instrumentalities move to different positions to distinctly define each osition, said retainer member having a si ewise movement with respect to the stationary member, and a helical spring yieldably retaining the balls in engagement with the stationary member pockets, the outer coil of said spring being of less diameter than said actuator and being snapped into the actuator annular groove.

10. In a switch construction, a stationary casing, switch instrumentalities mounted within the casing, a bored actuator operatively connected with the switch instrumentalities and having an enlargement rotatable in the casing opening, a stop carried by the casing and extending into the path of the actuator enlargement to limit its rotation, and split clamping means at one end of the actuator to bind the same to a rod inserted in itsbore, said split clamping means including a jam nut.

y11. In a switch mechanism a switch casing, a bracket member of heavier material than the switch easing and secured to one Wall thereof. said bracket member and switch casing lhaving registering apertures, switch instrumentalities mounted within the casing and including a movable member, an actuator '.lrivingly connected with the movable member and having a portion disposed in the registering apertures of the casing and bracket member, a projection integral with the bracket member and forming a stop extended into its aperture, and a projection integral with the actuator and forming a stop disposed within the plane of the bracket member stop to cooperate therewith and limit the rotation ot' the actuator.

12. In a switch mechanism, a housing, switch instrumentalities rotatable Within the housing and including a driver member, an actuator rotatable in the housing and having a longitudinal slot in one end portion, and a Longue carried by the driver member and engageable in the actuator slot whereby rotation of the actuator rotates the driver member and actuates the switch mechanism.

13. In a switch mechanism, a housing, -;witch instrumentalities rotatable within the housing and including a driver member, an actuator rotatable in the housing and having a longitudinal slot, in one end portion, a tongue cari'ied by the driver member and engageable in the actuator slot whereby rotation of the actuator rotates the driver member and actuates the switch mechanism, and a stop member rigidwitli respect to the housing and cooperating with one side of the actuator' flot to provide an angular stop for the switch mechanism.

14. In a switch mechanism, a substantially cup-shaped housing` having a plurality of indentations in its bottom wall, switch instruinentalities rotatable in the housing to different positions and including movable contact members adapted to be maintained under tension, a ball retainer and switch driver member, ball members within the indentations of the housing and held in position by the ball retainer member, spring means maintaining the ball retainer member under tension to provide a detent action as the switch instrumentalities rotate in the housing. and a driving connection between the ball retainer member and movable contacts whereby rotation of the retainer actuates the contacts, said driving connection being so arranged that the ball members are free ot the contact pressure.

15. In a switch mechanism, a substantially cup-shaped housing having a plurality of indentations in one wall, switch instrumentalities rotatable in the housing to different positions and inclut'ling movable contact meinbers adapted to be maintained under tension, a ball retainer and switch driver member` ball memberswithin the indentations of the housing and held in position by the ball retainer member, means independent ot' the contact pressure for yieldabl'v maintaining the bail retainer member under tension to provide a detent action as the switch instrumentalities rotate in the housing, and a (,lriving connection between the ball retainer member and movable contacts whereby rotation of the retainer actuates the contacts, said driving connection being so arranged that the contacts are free of the detent pressure.

16. In a switch construction, a stationaryl casing, switch iiistrumentalities mounted within the casing and including movable contacts and a driver for the contacts and engaging the casing end wall, an actuator 'extended into the casing, means ixing the driver to the actuator, and means carried by the ac.

tuator and embracing the other face of the casing end wall to prevent axial movement ot the actuator with respect to the casing.

17. In a switch construction. a stationary casing, switch instrumentalities mounted within the casing and including movable contacts and a driver for the contacts and engaging the casing end wall, an actuator extended into the casing, means fixing the driver to the actator, means carried by the actator and embracing the other face of the casing end wall to prevent axial movement of the actuator with respect to the casing, said driver having apertures therein adapted to register with depressions in the casing end wall. balls in the driver apertures and adapted to rest in the casing end wall depressions in register therewith. and means free of the driver for maintaining a tension on the balls to provide a detent action.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

EDWARD N. JACOBI.

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